LA Rams: Is the 2022 NFL season the year for 22 (Tutu Atwell)?

The selection of wide receiver Tutu Atwell by the LA Rams with the 57th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft was never going to be received with open arms. The Rams fanbase knew that veteran center Austin Blythe was gone, and there was rookie offensive center Creed Humphrey, who many fans and analysts proclaimed to be the best thing since sliced bread on the board.

The LA Rams chose Tutu Atwell in the second round. The Kansas City Chiefs chose Creed Humphrey afterward.  Humphrey went on to be named Pro Bowl alternate, Senior Bowl’s Rookie of the Year, and PFF’s First Team All-Pro Honors.  Atwell? Well, he was injured and sat out the second half of the 2021 NFL season. In somewhat a bit of anonymity. Atwell passed through his rookie season unheralded, seldom mentioned, and perhaps overlooked.

Sometimes adversity breaks a young man’s spirit. Other times, that adversity acts like a forge to temper the steel determination in a young man’s heart. While it may be too far to make that type of call just yet, doesn’t Tutu Atwell appear to be fired up in this short video snippet?

The rookie wide receiver is now entering his second year. By now, he’s heard enough from social media, blog articles, and even expert NFL analysts to know that many are betting against him, or at least do not expect much from him. And by what I’ve seen and read about him in recent weeks, it seems that he has taken much of the criticism personally.

He’s working harder than ever to find the path to a successful NFL career. This year, he won’t be alone in that journey.

I believe it is safe to conclude that by addressing Atwell and his teammate Jacob Harris in some of his introductory speeches, newly hired LA Rams Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen is personally setting-out to unlock both offensive players in the playbook for the 2022 NFL season.

Will that mean record-setting seasons from either player? That seems doubtful. But both players have unique skill sets that could be very useful in the right system. Coen, it seems, is tasked with finding that ‘right system’.

In the meantime, Atwell appears to be hauling ass in early team drills. Perhaps he will do well this year after all?  I mean, this is 2022: Twenty-Two-Two – the year of the Atwell.